Engine-starting apparatus



Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,810

G. W. ELSEY ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed uly 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5A, Mg/MMM Sept. 7 1926.

G. w. ELSEY ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M n 7 4 a a a .1-. .w 4 47. M aM/f J ...u 7 l2. 5 55.

a d f .7 z 4mm/. 7 4. 7 d l //1 l ML .n .L 70 35 8 5MM 3 4Z 6 SHO-Lung Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES 1,598,810 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. ELSEY, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR T GENERAL MOTORS COR PORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ENGINE-STARTIN G APPARATUS.

Application nied July 2s,

This invention relates to the type of electrical engine starting apparatus which includes a small gear or pinion driven by an electric motor and normally out of mesh witlrbut adapted to engage and drive a geark connected` with an engine to be'started. Manualmeans .are employed for moving the pinion.v into mesh with vthe engine gear and for operating an electric switch for controlling the motor.

The objects of the invention are to accomplish the meshing of the pinion with the engine gear with the least possible damage to the starting apparatus, particularly to the teeth of either the pinion or gear. In order to accomplish this object the invention provides an improved electric switch for controlling the electrical circuits of the starting apparatus so that the motor may operate slowly and with low torque while the pinion isbeing meshed with the engine gear, said switch being operated, after the pinion has been brought nearly into full driving engagement with the engine gear,

' to cause the motor to crank the engine.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings are fragmentary side elevations, partly in section, showing a starting apparatus in non-operating and engine cranking positions respectively;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fi g. 2;

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram showing the circuits controlled by the motor switch;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 5'; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fi .5. v n

eferring to the drawings, the engine to befstarted is represented by a flywheel gear adapted to be driven and to drive a motor pinion 21, which is threadedly engaged by the spiral splines 22, formed on a motor shaft 23, which supports the armature 24 of an electric motor 25. The motor 25 includes a fieldy trame 26 secured to a gear housing 27, the frame 26 supporting a bearing for 1924. Serial No. 728,585.

the left end (not shown) of the shaft 23, andthe housing 27 providing a bearing 28 for the right end of the shaft 23. The hub 29 of pinion 2l is provided with flanges 30 and 31, which define a groove 32 which is engaged .by the arms 33 of a bifurcated lever provided with a yoke 34 connecting the arms. The lever arms 33 are pivoted upon a rod 35 supported by brackets 36 extending from the housing 27, the rod 35 .being retained endwise by its head and by a cotter pin 37. y

The mechanism for actuating the lever arms 33, includes a pedal connected by rod 41 with a lever 42. For returning the pedal 40 to position shown in Fig. l, there is provided a spring 43 located between the pedal 40 and a cup-shaped member 44, through which the rod 41 passes, said member 44 being supported by the floor 45 of the automobile.

The lever 42 includes arms 46 which are pivoted upon the rod 35 and which are connected adjacent their lower ends by a stud 47 which provides a pivot for a latch pawl. 48 provided with a hook 4.9 for engaging a latch plate 50 movable Vrelative to the yoke 34 of the levers 33. The yoke 34 is provided with an opening 51 for receiving the eX- tension 52 of latch pawl 48. `The lever arms 33 are each provided with an opening 53 for receiving an end of the latch plate 50 and for guiding said plate during its movements relative to the lever yoke 34.

To the plate 50 are attached spring studs 55, each passing through aliole 56 provided in the yoke 34 and each provided with a washer 57. A spring 58 surrounds each stud and is confined in an initial state of compression by the washer 57 and the yoke 34, so that `the `latch plate 50 is yieldingly urged toward the yoke 34 by the action of i springs 58.

The flange 30 of hub 29 of gear 21 is normally yieldingly pressed against a stop 60 provided on shaft 23, by a spring 61 having intermediate loop portions 62 bearing against the latch plate 50 and including portions 63 coiled around the rod 35 and having its endportions 64 bearing against a stationary part such as the field frame 26. The spring loop 62 urges the latch plate 50 against the yoke 34, and the lever arms 33 urge the flange 30 against the stop 60.

The latch pawl 48 includes an arm 70 provided with a hole 71 engaged by the end 72 of a spring 73, secured by a screw'74 to the housing 27.

The pedal-operated mechanism described is adapted to cooperate with a two-stage switch which is closed after contact of the motor pinion 21 with the engine gear 20 to provide a preliminary rotation of the motor to facilitate gear meshment, after which the motor is operated with full torque to complete the engagement and crank the engine. Lever 42 is arranged to engage a switch knob 100, threadedly engaging a switch rod 101 and secured in the desired position of adjustment by a lock nut 102. The rod 101 slides through a bushing 103 provided in one end 104 of a switch case 105, which is secured by screws 106 to the field frame 26. Within the switch case 105, the rod 101 is provided with a reduced portion 106 terminating at a shoulder 107, and the rod 101 is provided with a portion 108 still further reduced in diameter to provide a shoulder 109. The extension 108 is threadedly engaged by a rod 110 in alinement with the rod 101 and passing through a bushing 111 in the switch case end 112. Between the rod 110 and the shoulder 109 there is clamped a washer 113. A spring 114 is located betweenv the bushing 111 and the washer 113.

A switch contact 115 is mounted on a non-conducting bushing 116 fitting loosely on portion 106 and yieldingly urged by a spring 117 against a non-conducting washer 118 located between the bushing 116 and the washer 113. r1`he contact 115 is adapted to engage the contact 119 insulatingly suported by the switch case 105 and connected ly screw 120 with a resistance coil 121, and to engage a contact surface 122 provided by conductor 123 attached by'nut 124 and terminal bolt 125 with the cranking field yinding 126 of the motor 25, as indicated in tontact 130 is insulatin ly and loosely supported upon the reduce portion 106 of rod 101, by a non-conducting bushing 131 located between non-conducting washers 132 and 133. Spring 117 yieldingly urges a washer 134 against washer 132, washer 133 against a washer 135, and washer 135 against the shoulder 107 and bushing 103. Contact 130 is adapted to engage contact 136 provided by the conductor 123, and contact 137 provided by the head of terminal bolt 138 which is insulatingly supported by the switch case 105 and is connected with the resistance coil 121 by nut 139. Nut 140 is used to secure a conductor connected with the battery 141, indicated in Fig. 4.

The upper and lower non-conducting switch case lining members 142 and 143, respectively, hold in place non-conducting side lining members 143a which prevent engagement of the movable switch contacts 115 and 130 with the switch case, as indicated in Fi 3.

'trhe coil 121 may be located upon one of the field poles of the motor to provide a strong field while tending to reduce the armature current, as indicated in Fig. 4.

The operation of the invention is as follows: Downward movement of the pedal 40 causes the pinion 21 to be yieldingly pressed by springs 58 against the gear 20, and thereafter causes the switch contact 115 to engage contacts 122 and 119, due to engagement of lever 42 with knob 100. The motor 25 being connected in series with the high resistance winding 121 and the vbattery 141, will rotate relatively slowly and wit low torque to effect the registering movement of the pinion 21. Further movement of the pedal 40 causes the pinion to enter into mesh with the gear 20; and, after substantial engagement of these gears has been effected by operation of pedal 40, the contact 130 is moved into engagement with contacts 13 and 137, as indicated in Fig. 2.' Thereupon the motor operates with sutiicient power to thread the pinion 21 into full engagement with the gear 20 and against a stop collar 90 secured to the shaft 23. The construction is such that the pinion will be brought relatively close to the collar 90 before the winding 121 is short-circuited. This construction materially reduces the shock and noise of engagement of the pinion 21 with the collar 90 and also tends to reduce the Yshock at the gear teeth when the motor bcgins to crank the engine.

The spring 73 normally biases the latch 48 into engagement with the latch plate 50. Vhen the pinion 21 has been moved into cngagement with the gear 20 and the motor begins to thread the pinion into complete engagement thereby relieving pressure between the latch 48 and the plate 50, the spring 73, being then biased to produce clockwise rotation of latch 48, is released to move the latch 48 out of the path of movement ot the plate 50. This is shown in Fig'. 2. Therefore the pedal is automaticallv disconnected from the inion 21, so thatautomatic demeshment of) the pinion 21 may take p lacc after the engine becomes self-operative, regardless of the status of the pedal.

Release of the pedal 40 allows the spring 43 to return the lever 42 and parts connected therewith, to normal position shown in Fig. 1. The spring 114 returns the switch rod 101 to its original position to cause the contacts 115 and 130 to be disengaged from their respective stationary contacts: and

lll)

spring 117 restores contact 115 to original position.

The knob 100 might be adjusted on rod 101 so that the movement of lever 42 will cause the contact 115 to engage contacts 119 and 122 before the pinion 21 engages the gear 20. But this adjustment renders the apparatus less fool-proof, because, ifv the pedal 40Vis not operated so that the pinion 21 will move into mesh with the gear 20 immediately after these contacts are connected, enough time may elapse between the contact making and gear engagement for the motor to finally attain a speed which might cause injury to the gear teeth while meshing. It would be possible for the operator to move the pinion to a position just in contact with the gear, and the pinion could be operated like a revolving toolfor wearing away the ends of the gear teeth.

The invention is made more fool-proof in operation by operating it in the manner first described. Since the pinion is spring pressed against the ear before the motor is connected with the attery, the spring will be released, when the motor turn-s the pinion into registration with the gear, and the pinion will be partially meshed `and the motor will stop until the pedal is moved to substantially completely mesh the pinion with the gear and then close thel main switch including contacts 137, 132, and 136.

While the form of embodiment ofthe present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor; driving connections between the motor and engine to be started including a pinion adapted to mesh with an engine gear and including means whereby the pinion will be moved by the crankingr movement of the motor into complete engagement with the engine gear after the pinion has been partly meshed with the gear, and whereby the pinion will be automatically disengaged from the engine gear when the` engine becomes self-operative; an electric circuit for effecting a pinion mesh-registering movement of the motor; an electric circuit for efectingthe cranking operation of the motor: means for rendering the first circuit operative prior to gear meshment, for meshing the pinion with the gear, and thent for rendering the second circuit operative, said means including a pedal normally connected with the pinion; and means released by the motor-operated movement of the pinion into complete mesh with the engine gear for causing the pedal to be disconnected from the pinion.

2. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor; driving connections between the motor and engine to be started including a pinion adapted to mesh with an engine gear and including means whereby the pinion will be moved by the cranking movement of the motor into complete engagement with the engine gear after the pinion has been partly meshed with the gear and whereby the pinion will be automatically disengaged from the engine gear when the engine becomes self-operative; an electric circuit for effecting a pinion mesharegistering movement of the motor; an electric circuit for effecting the cranking operation of the motor; means for rendering the first circuit operative prior to gear meshment, for meshing the pinion with the gear, and then for rendering the second circuit operative, said means including a pedal-operated lever and switch means actuated thereby for controlling said circuits, and a pinion-shifting lever normally connected with the pedal lever; and means released for operation by the operation of the second circuit for causing the levers to be disconnected.

3. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor; driving connections between the motor and engine to be started including a pinion adapted to mesh with an engine gear and including means whereby the pinion will be moved by the cranking movement of the motor into complete engagement with the engine gear after the pinion has been partly meshed with the gear and whereby the pinion will be automatically disengaged from the engine gear when the engine becomes self-operative; an electric circuit for eflecting a pinion mesh-registering movement of the motor; an electric circuit for effecting the cranking operation of the motor; means for rendering the first circuit operative prior to gear meshmcnt, for meshing the pinion with the gear, and then for rendering the second circuit operative, said means including a pedal and a two-stage switch having an actuator operated by the pedal for controlling said circuits, and a' pinion shifting member `normally connected with the pedal; and

means released for operation upon the completion of movement of the switch actuator for causing the pedal to be disconnected from the shifting member.

4. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor; driving connections between the motor and engine to be started including a pinion adapted to mesh with an engine gear and including means whereby the pinion will be moved by the cranking movement of the motor into complete engagement with the engine gear after the pinion has been partly m'eshed with the gear and whereby the pinion will be automatically disengaged from the engine gear ,when the engine becomes self-operative; an

electric circuit for effecting a pinion meshregistering movement of the motor; an electric circuit for effecting the cranking. operation of the motor; means for rendering the first circuit operative prior to gear meshment, for meshing the pinion with the gear, and then for rendering the second circuit operative, said means including a pedal and switch means actuated thereby for controlling said circuits, a pinion shifting member nor'mally connected with the pedal and a yielding connection between the pedal and member for causing the pinion yieldingly to engage the gear by the operation of the pedal to close the first circuit and mesh gears; and means released Jfor operation by the closing of the second circuit for causing the pedal to be disconnected from the shifting member.

5. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor; driving connections between the motor and engine to be started including a pinion adapted to mesh with an engine gear and including means whereby the Ipinion Will be moved by the cranking movement of the motor i nto complete engagement with the engine gear after the pinion has been partly meshed with the gear, and whereby the pinion will be automatically disengaged from the engine gear when the engine becomesself-operative; an electric circuit for effecting a pinion mesh-registering movement of the motor; an electric circuit for electing the cranking operation of the motor; means for rendering the first circuit operative prior to gear meshment, for meshing the pinion with the gear, and then for rendering the second circuit operative, said means including a pedal normally connected with the pinion, through a yielding connection whereby operation of the pedal causes the pinion to be yieldingly pressed against the gear While the motoris initially operating to secure mesh-registration; and means released by the motor-operated movement of the pinion into complete mesh4 With the engine gear for causing the pedal t0 be disconnected from the pinion.

6. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor, a spirally splined shaft operated by the motor, a pinion threaded upon said shaft and movable endwise into mesh with the gear of an engine to be started, the pinion being completely meshed by the rotation of the shaft after being partly meshed by the operator, and said pinion being automatically demeshed from the engine gear when the engine becomes self operative; an electric circuit or effecting a pinion mesh-registering movement of the motor; an electric circuit for effecting the cranking operation of the motor; means for rendering the irst circuit operative prior to gear meshment, for meshing the pinion with the gear, and then for rendering tlie second circuit operative, said means including a pedal normally connected with the pinion, through a yielding connection whereby operation of the pedal causes the pinion to be yieldingly pressed against the gear while the motor is initially operating to secure mesh-registration; and means released by the -motor-operated movementot' the pinion into complete mesh with the enginegear for causingthe pedal to be disconnected rom the pinion.

7. Engine starting apparatus comprising, in combination, an electric motor, a spirally splined shaft operated by the motor, a pinion threaded upon said shaft and movable endwise into mesh with the gear of an engine to be started, the pinion being completely meshed by the rotation of the shaft after being partly. meshed by the operator,

and said pinion being automatically demeshed from the engine gear when the engine becomes self operative; a lever for moving the pinion endwise into engagement with the enginel gear; a pedal normally connected with the lever; an electric circuit for eiecting a pinion-registering movement of the motor; an electric circuit for effecting Ythe cranking operation of the motor; means operated by the lever for rendering the first circuit operative to facilitate the mesh-4 ing of the pinion with the gear and then for rendering the second circuit operative only after the pinion is nearly fully meshed with the gear; and means responsive to the completion of the second circuit for disconnecting the pedal from the pinion lever so as to permit automatic demeshment of the pinion regardless of the status of the pedal.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix myv signature.

GEORGE lV. ELSEY. 

